Last year, after a rash of helmet-to-helmet hits prompted the NFL to pay closer attention to the issue via more aggressive rules enforcement, the NFL also was selling photos of some of the helmet-to-helmet hits. Once made aware of the situation, the NFL asked the third party responsible for managing the league’s photo store to remove the images.

NFL spokesman Greg Aiello tells PFT that the procedure for selling AP photos will be changed to prevent similar situations in the future. “It was a mistake and taken down Wednesday as soon as it was discovered,” Aiello said regarding the image of a dazed McCoy sitting on the field after being hit by James Harrison, and before inexplicably being cleared to return to the game after missing only two plays.

“The images were posted live automatically overnight without being reviewed by the vendor,” Aiello said. “To make sure it doesn’t happen again, Replay Photos is turning off the automated AP Images feed for NFL and team site photo stores. All images will be reviewed and will have to be manually pushed to be posted live.”

It’s the smart approach. But not so smart that it should have required a couple of incidents like this to prompt the powers-that-be to realize that an automatic feed of AP photos to the photo store could result in the sale of some photos that the league would otherwise not want to sell.

I do not believe that James Harrison should have been suspended for THIS hit. It is unfortunate that Colt McCoy sustained a concussion, however, he became a running back the minute he tucked the ball and began to run, despite remaining behind the line of scrimmage. If fans don’t at least admit that this is a significant “gray area” in this particular instance then you are likely fooling yourselves. It is lazy to conclude that this particular play was “dirty” without investigating the circumstance.

Yep, I believe the same thing happened last year when they were selling a photo of a tackle by James Harrison of a Cleveland Browns player (that sounds familiar and hey, James is from Cleveland!). Although unpenalized, if I remember correctly, Harrison subsequently got a heavy fine which was part of the evidence trail leading to his suspension this week.

If someone had not called the NFL on these procedures, they would not have changed. The NFL would continue to sell the photos as long as they generated revenue and there was not a fan backlash. They had the same issue with videos for big hits.

The NFL simply desires to give the idea that they are working towards player safety. It is the correct PR move. But, they fail to actually DO the right thing on so many levels.

Why? Virginia Tech did a study on football helmets to determine which ones reduced concussions. The most popular model in the NFL, NCAA, and high school is the Riddell VSR4. It was the 2nd lowest rated helmet of the 10 tested. The Riddell Revolution Speed, Riddell Revolution, Schutt Ion 4D, and Schutt DNA Pro+ all performed vastly better. The NFL, if it were truly in this to protect its players, would immediately dump the lesser helmets and have their players refitted with the better helmets and allow them to use the better helmet of their choice regardless of price, brand, or corporate sponsorship.

In addition, they would require mouthpieces that are designed to reduce concussions, much like MMA and boxers now use.

But, they don’t. It is easier to allow the game to chug along and give the impression they care by fining players. It really takes less effort that way and keeps them in the news for “making changes”.

They continue to be reactive and not proactive. It is a farce and lazy reporters buy into it.

Jeebus, Mike! Would you give this a rest? This obsession with the concussion topic has gotten out of hand. We know your kid plays football, but your self-assigned role as the NFL’s Concussion Procedure Gadfly has gone beyond tiring…

This is the second time the NFL has done this, suspensions on the rise. Wasn’t it last year , I think it was a Cleveland picture when God-del and his cronies started all the fines that they tried to sell the photo, of again I think Harrison ,hitting a Cleveland player, for profit to the NFL.. They need to clean their own house if they want to fine players from everything on how they stand singing the National Anthem to wearing colored shoes.

I do not believe that James Harrison should have been suspended for THIS hit. It is unfortunate that Colt McCoy sustained a concussion, however, he became a running back the minute he tucked the ball and began to run, despite remaining behind the line of scrimmage. If fans don’t at least admit that this is a significant “gray area” in this particular instance then you are likely fooling yourselves. It is lazy to conclude that this particular play was “dirty” without investigating the circumstance.”

You can’t hit anyone in the helmet with your helmet. It doesn’t matter if he was a runner, a thrower, a catcher, a kicker, a coach, or a water boy. Harrison aims at his helmet at Colt’s helmet, makes direct contact, and Colt’s head slams backwards. Are you really that ignorant? Cmon man

Are YOU really that ignorant? What are you talking about “you can’t hit anyone in the helmet with your helmet…it doesn’t matter if he was a runner, thrower, catcher, etc.” You actually think this rule applies to running backs? The only people that can’t be hit helmet to helmet are the QB’s when throwing and receivers in the act of catching a pass…..Under your logic, there would be a penalty every play when a RB runs up the middle.

As Harrison’s accountant, I would be taking the full charitable deduction off his taxes for the fine, reducing his total loss to fines from about $100,000 a year to about $61,000 a year. I would tell him to continue knocking the slobber out of guys and losing 0.15% of his annual income to fines after the tax deduction each year.

If I recall, he’s got about a $40 million dollar contract plus incentives, plus he sells a lot of books, so at the end of the day, this is a miniscule price to pay to be one of the most recognizable faces in the NFL.

It is easier to allow the game to chug along and give the impression they care by fining players. It really takes less effort that way and keeps them in the news for “making changes”.

They continue to be reactive and not proactive. It is a farce and lazy reporters buy into it.
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Exactly. But as someone pointed out, your son plays football now. Time to start taking a more proactive approach. You have a real voice and real influence. Instead of using it to bash Harrison or Steeler terminology when all the matters is they’ve kept concussed players out of the game, start using it to put some heat on the league.

Protecting players’ long-term health requires substantive change–and that costs money. Corporations have always preferred scapegoating people to making necessary systemic corrections. That’s why medical error is still a leading cause of death in America.

Uhhhh, Colt threw the ball to the left sideline right before stepping over the line of scrimmage. Then takes the top of Harrison’s helmet to the chin. There was no tucking and running. He was trying to injure him.

You can’t hit anyone in the helmet with your helmet. It doesn’t matter if he was a runner, a thrower, a catcher, a kicker, a coach, or a water boy. Harrison aims at his helmet at Colt’s helmet, makes direct contact, and Colt’s head slams backwards. Are you really that ignorant? Cmon man

I’d hate to disagree with such a well thought out statement, but you do realize that RB’s are not only hit in the head helmet to helmet by defenders, but they themselves hit defenders helmet to helmet. It happens every single game. There was a bone jarring helmet to helmet hit on mendenhall at the goal line of that game. Perfectly legal.

Thats the gray area. RB’s can be hit helmet to helmet. As it stands now the rule book says when a QB leaves the pocket he is a runner. Just see how many times Vicks been nailed when he runs. So the league needs to determine when a QB is a QB, and when hes a runner. I’m guessing the new rule will be either he is never a runner, or hes a runner once he gets past the line of scrimmage. But right now you can hit helmet to helmet on all runners.